View source for Betty Ross

{{Short description|Fictional character in Marvel Comics}}
{{distinguish|Betsy Ross}}
{{Infobox comics character 
| image = Betty Ross (Red She-Hulk).png
| converted = y
| caption = Betty Ross both as herself (left) and as the Red She-Hulk (right) on the cover of ''Red She-Hulk'' #58 (October 2012).
| full_name = Elizabeth "Betty" Ross Talbot Banner
| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut ='''As Betty Ross:'''<br />''The Incredible Hulk'' #1<br />(March 1962)<br />'''As the Harpy:'''<br />''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #168<br />(July 1973)<br />'''As the Red She-Hulk:'''<br />''Hulk'' vol. 2 #15<br />(September 2009)<br />'''As the Red Harpy:'''<br />''[[The Immortal Hulk (comic book)|Immortal Hulk]]'' #16<br />(2019)
| creators = '''Betty Ross''':<br />[[Stan Lee]] (writer)<br />[[Jack Kirby]] (artist)<br />'''The Harpy''':<br />[[Steve Englehart]] (writer)<br />[[Herb Trimpe]] (artist)<br />'''The Red She-Hulk''':<br />[[Jeph Loeb]] (writer)<br />[[Ed McGuinness]] (artist)<br />'''The Red Harpy''':<br />[[Al Ewing]] (writer)<br />[[Joe Bennett (artist)|Joe Bennett]] (artist)
| aliases = Elizabeth Ross-Talbot<br />Harpy<br />Red She-Hulk<br />Mr. Blue<br />Red Harpy
| alliances = Ancient Order of the Shield<ref>''Red She-Hulk'' #67 (2013)</ref><br />[[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]]
| powers =
*[[Superhuman strength]], [[Superspeed (fiction)|speed]], agility, durability, stamina, and smell
*Razor-sharp talons on bird-like feet
*Regenerative [[healing factor]]
*[[Energy]] blasts projection
*[[Flight]]
|species=Human gamma-mutate}}

'''Elizabeth''' "'''Betty'''" '''Ross''' (later '''Talbot''' and then '''Banner''') is a character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Created by [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]], the character first appeared in ''The Incredible Hulk'' #1 (1962) as a [[romantic interest]] of the [[Hulk]] (Dr. Bruce Banner).<ref>{{Cite web |title=100+ Characters Created and Co-Created by Stan Lee |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/what-characters-did-stan-lee-create/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Marvel |date=14 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref> She is the daughter of [[Thunderbolt Ross|General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |author-link1=Tom DeFalco |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |author-link3=Tom Brevoort |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=301}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fillery |first=Jake |date=2022-08-30 |title=Marvel: 10 Smartest Hulks, Ranked |url=https://gamerant.com/marvel-smartest-hulks/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}</ref> Over the years, the character has undergone multiple transformations, including the '''Harpy''' and '''Red She-Hulk'''.

The character was portrayed by [[Jennifer Connelly]] in ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'' (2003). The character has also appeared in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) portrayed by [[Liv Tyler]] in the films ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (2008) and ''[[Captain America: Brave New World]]'' (2025). An alternate version appeared in the [[Disney+]] animated series ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'' (2021) voiced by Stephanie Panisello.

==Publication history==
Betty Ross debuted in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' #1 (May 1962) by writer [[Stan Lee]] and artist [[Jack Kirby]]. She was an on-and-off again [[supporting character]] in the [[Hulk]]'s various series for decades, serving as his longest-running [[love interest]]. In 1989, Betty Ross Banner received an entry in ''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe|The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89]]'' #1.

Stan Lee originally portrayed Betty Ross as a strong willed and independent-minded, yet conventionally polite woman. Mid-1980s ''The Incredible Hulk'' writer/artist [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] portrayed her as more wilful and confrontational, characterizations which would remain in place during [[Peter David]]'s long run as the series' writer.<ref name="Shayer">{{cite journal|last= Shayer|first= Jason|date= February 2014|title= Hulk Smash More!: The Incredible Hulk in the 1980s|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= #70|page= 58|publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref> Betty has a [[miscarriage]] in ''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #360. Though this occurred during David's run on the series, the issue was instead written by editor [[Bob Harras]]. David recalled, "The reason I refused to do it was because Betty was really losing her child to editorial fiat. It was decided by [[The powers that be|the powers-that-be]] that Betty and Bruce were not to become parents because that would make the characters seem ‘too old’ to the younger readers. My run on the book almost ended with that issue; I nearly walked over it. But there were so many stories I still wanted to tell that ultimately I stayed with it, even though I fumed about it for quite a while."<ref>Shayer, p. 61</ref>

In ''Hulk'' vol. 2 #15 (September 2009), she appears for the first time as Red She-Hulk, who was created by writer [[Jeph Loeb]] and artist [[Ed McGuinness]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |author-link1=Tom Brevoort |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |author-link2=Tom DeFalco |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=349}}</ref> Loeb said, "We've been very careful with the creation of this character. We wanted to make sure she didn't come off as silly—my memory of the introduction to [the original] [[She-Hulk]]—before anyone had read a page. But the character was a completely different take on the Hulk, a Hulk we'd never seen before. Jen [Walters] is a wonderful character. Our intention is [that] Red She-Hulk will make an equally important impression on the Marvel Universe {{sic}}."<ref>{{cite web |last=Storm |first=Marc |date=July 25, 2009 |title=SDCC 2009: Introducing Red She-Hulk |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/8916/sdcc_2009_introducing_red_she-hulk |work=Marvel.com |access-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018192237/http://marvel.com/news/story/8916/sdcc_2009_introducing_red_she-hulk |archive-date=2012-10-18 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Red She-Hulk is also present in the "[[Chaos War (comics)|Chaos War]]"<ref>''Incredible Hulks'' #618</ref> and "[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]" storylines<ref name="CoreMiniseries#7">{{Cite comic|writer=[[Matt Fraction]]|penciller=[[Stuart Immonen]]|inker=[[Wade Von Grawbadger]]|story=Thor's Day|title=Fear Itself|volume=1|issue=#7|date=December 2011|publisher=Marvel Comics|page=|panel=}}</ref> in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Red She-Hulk becomes a member of the superhero team the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]] in ''[[The Defenders (comic book)|The Defenders]]'' vol. 4 #1 (December 2011) by writer [[Matt Fraction]] and artist [[Terry Dodson]]. Fraction said, "The way I write her is somewhere between [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]] and [[Johnny Knoxville]]; after a lifetime of being fought over and treated like a human football, she's [now] seven foot tall and 62-52-62 or whatever and bulletproof. She goes around leaving these Betty-shaped holes in the wall."<ref>{{cite web |last=Beard |first=Jim |date=July 25, 2011 |title=SDCC 2011: Defenders |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/16312/sdcc_2011_defenders |work=Marvel.com |access-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525060751/http://marvel.com/news/story/16312/sdcc_2011_defenders |archive-date=2013-05-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The series was discontinued in November 2012, after 12 issues.

In October 2012, as part of [[Marvel NOW!]], ''Hulk'' was retitled ''Red She-Hulk'' starting with issue #58 by writer [[Jeff Parker (comics)|Jeff Parker]] and artist [[Carlo Pagulayan]]. About the series Parker said, "She's become convinced of a threat to humanity which is essentially, all people like her. She's conflicted over losing her own human side, and she's acting out on a large scale based on that. But the thing is she may well be right."<ref>{{cite web |last=Dietsch |first=TJ |date=July 13, 2012 |title=SDCC 2012: Red She-Hulk |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/19025/sdcc_2012_red_she-hulk |work=Marvel.com |access-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107200950/http://marvel.com/news/story/19025/sdcc_2012_red_she-hulk |archive-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography<!--'Crossroads (Marvel comics)' redirects here-->==
===Early history===
[[File:Betty Ross.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The first appearance of Betty Ross in ''The Incredible Hulk'' #1 (May 1962).]]
The only daughter of General [[Thunderbolt Ross|Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross]], Betty spent her formative years firmly under her father's strict supervision. After her mother died during Betty's teenage years, she was sent away to [[boarding school]].{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} After graduating, the introverted young woman returned to her father's side while he was in charge of a top-secret project to create a new type of weapon involving [[gamma radiation]], known as the Gamma Bomb. The head scientist on the project was Bruce Banner. Betty was immediately captivated by Banner's intellect and soft-spoken manner. However, less than an hour after their first meeting, Banner is caught in a test detonation of the Gamma Bomb and becomes the [[Hulk]].<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' #1 (May 1962). Marvel Comics.</ref> Banner's efforts to keep his condition a secret from Betty only serve to alienate her from him. She is then romantically pursued by [[United States Air Force|Major]] [[Glenn Talbot]], the new aide attached to her father's [[Hulkbusters|Hulkbuster]] task force.<ref>''Tales to Astonish'' #61 (Nov 1964). Marvel Comics.</ref>

After his dual identity becomes public knowledge, Banner becomes a hunted fugitive. With the help of [[Mister Fantastic|Reed Richards]], Banner becomes able to gain control of his transformation, is eventually pardoned, and later proposes to Betty. During the wedding ceremony, the Hulk's archenemy [[Leader (character)|the Leader]] causes Banner to transform back into the Hulk, and Banner once again becomes a fugitive. General Ross is seriously injured when the Hulk runs amok while battling the Rhino, and Talbot promises Betty that the Hulk would pay for it.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #124 (February 1970). Marvel Comics.</ref>

As a result of the failed wedding and Banner's relapse into the Hulk, Betty suffers a nervous breakdown and is hospitalized. In an effort by the Sandman to rid himself of his glass like form, the Sandman orders Dr. Marquand to provide him with a patient with the same blood type as him which turns out to be Betty Ross. As the result of the blood transfusion, the Sandman reverts to his previous form, yet Betty receives the glass properties, which Sandman surmises would eventually kill her.<ref name="The Incredible Hulk 1971">''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #139 (May 1971). Marvel Comics.</ref> Betty's father recruits Dr. [[Leonard Samson]] to reverse the effect by siphoning the Hulk's gamma and psionic energies to simultaneously cure Bruce and Betty. The result would have permanently cured both of them, if not for Bruce purposefully re-exposing himself to the siphoned Gamma energy, as a means to combat Samson who had also done so, and was subsequently flirting with Betty. This ended in Hulk defeating Samson, yet later on Samson would pursue the Hulk.<ref name="The Incredible Hulk 1971" />

Finding him in the aftermath of a battle as the Hulk, Betty hears Banner mumble, "[[Jarella]]... my love..."<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #150 (April 1972). Marvel Comics.</ref> After Banner seemingly disappears from Earth, Betty accepts a marriage proposal from Glenn Talbot. While Betty and Talbot are on their honeymoon, her father is captured and sent to a Soviet prison. Talbot takes part in a successful rescue mission, but is captured in the process, held prisoner by the [[Gremlin (comics)|Gremlin]] at Bitterfrost (a top secret Soviet installation in Siberia), and believed dead.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #188 (June 1975). Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Becoming the Harpy===
[[File:Incredible Hulk 168.jpg|thumb|upright|Betty Ross as the Harpy on the cover of ''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #168 (Oct. 1973)]]
The villain [[MODOK]] kidnaps Betty and subjects her to gamma radiation, at a higher level than Banner had been subjected to, transforming her into a bird hybrid creature called the Harpy. MODOK tells the Harpy where to find the Hulk and she flies off in search of him. She ambushes him and, after a lengthy fight, knocks him out with her hellbolts.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #168 (October 1973). Marvel Comics.</ref> Before she can take the Hulk back to MODOK, however, they are abducted by the [[Bi-Beast]] to his city in the sky. Banner agrees to repair the machines that cause the city to float in exchange for permission to use the advanced equipment to cure Betty. MODOK comes to the island and instigates a fight just as Banner starts the equipment.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #169 (November 1973). Marvel Comics.</ref> Banner, nonetheless, escapes the collapsing city with a now-cured Betty.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #170 (December 1973). Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Return===
Talbot is eventually rescued by General Ross, [[Clay Quartermain]], and the Hulk.<ref name=autogenerated3>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #200 (June 1976). Marvel Comics.</ref> During his time in captivity by the [[Gremlin (comics)|Gremlin]],<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #187-188 (May–June 1975). Marvel Comics.</ref> Talbot was made into a mindless husk. To unblock Talbot's mind, [[Doc Samson]] has the Hulk (who was, at that time, Banner's mind controlling the Hulk's body) unblock what was keeping him in a mindless state. The process is, ultimately, a success.<ref name=autogenerated3/> However, the Talbots' marriage later becomes strained.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #213. Marvel Comics.</ref>

When General Ross suffers a nervous breakdown, Talbot returns to the military as a Colonel and it is revealed that he had fired a ray gun that sent the Hulk to the Sub-Atomic universe after the Hulk stormed into [[Gamma Base]], looking for Jarella. This incident proves to be the last straw in Talbot's already deteriorating relationship with Betty, and their marriage later ends in divorce. Blaming the failure of his marriage on Banner, whom he also tried to have court-martialed, Talbot steals the War Wagon prototype and dies in Japan while trying to destroy the Hulk. Betty admits to Rick Jones afterwards that she had never stopped loving Banner all the while she was married to Talbot.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=August 2012}}

When Betty learns that her father had conspired with MODOK to kill the Hulk, she accuses him of treason. Realizing Betty was right, Ross nearly commits suicide and then disappears.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #291. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Banner again achieves a state in which he can control his transformations and maintain his mind while in the form of the Hulk. But Betty is upset because she wants Banner to be rid of the Hulk, not to control him, and leaves him once again.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #279. Marvel Comics.</ref> When [[Doctor Strange]] banishes Hulk to the Crossroads<!--skip bold per WP:R#PLA exception for minor redirects-->, an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternative reality]]/inter-dimensional portal,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #300 (October 1984). Marvel Comics.</ref> Betty begins dating a man named Ramon. Upon learning that the Hulk had been sighted on Earth once again, Betty leaves Ramon and returns to Gamma Base, where the Hulk is subjected to a process that splits Banner and the Hulk into separate entities. Believing himself finally cured, Banner proposes to Betty, and she accepts. Betty's father appears at the wedding, armed with a gun and demanding that the marriage not take place before shooting Rick Jones, who tries to stop him. Betty confronts her father, accusing him of domineering her throughout her life, as well as calling him out on his hostility towards Banner over the years, and cows him into surrendering the gun. Finally, Banner and Betty are pronounced husband and wife.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #319 (May 1986). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |author-link1=Tom Brevoort |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |author-link2=Tom DeFalco |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=227}}</ref>

However, Banner begins dying as a result of being separated from the Hulk. The two are secretly merged once more. Betty soon discovers this. General Ross later dies before his daughter's eyes, sacrificing his life to destroy an unnamed [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] that nearly killed both Betty and Banner seeking a strong host to whom to be parasitically linked.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #230. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Betty becomes distraught on learning that Banner had sometimes consciously triggered his transformation in the past and is willing to become the Hulk to deal with menacing threats. Betty leaves her husband and returns to Ramon, but then changes her mind and abandons Ramon as well. She is then captured by the Leader, who sets her free after learning that she is pregnant with Banner's child, but after being tormented with terrible nightmares by the demons [[Nightmare (Marvel Comics)|Nightmare]] and [[D'Spayre]], Betty loses her unborn baby.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #360. Marvel Comics.</ref>

She is eventually reunited with Banner, but soon afterward the Hulk is seemingly killed in an explosion at Gammatown. Believing Banner and the Hulk dead, Betty leaves for New York City, where she eventually begins training to become a nun. Betty spends some months in a convent to recover from the ordeal, but eventually reunites with Banner. They spend years living together as fugitives until the Hulk's enemy the [[Abomination (character)|Abomination]] uses his own blood to poison Betty, which would appear to be the work of the Hulk himself. Betty is placed in [[Cryogenics|cryogenic]] suspension by her father.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' #466 (July 1998)</ref>

In a later story arc, Betty is seemingly revived by the [[Leader (character)|Leader]], undergoes surgery which considerably alters her appearance, is granted superhuman strength, and adopts the alias "Mr. Blue". However, this is later revealed to be a hallucination created by Nightmare.<ref>''Incredible Hulk'' vol. 3 #81. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''World War Hulk'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 3 #110. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Becoming the Red She-Hulk===
During the "[[Fall of the Hulks]]" storyline, Betty Ross is revealed to have been resurrected by the Leader and [[MODOK]] at the urgings of Thunderbolt Ross. She also underwent the same process that had turned her father into the [[Red Hulk]], which granted her superhuman physical power. The now-villainous [[Doc Samson]] also helps the Leader brainwash Betty into an extremely confused and aggressive state.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2012}} Ross' allies, aware of his intentions to betray them, send Betty, as the "Red She-Hulk", to help assassinate her father, who is hunting [[Domino (character)|Domino]], after she witnesses him transform from his human form. Their encounter ends with the Red She-Hulk kicking the Red Hulk off the [[Empire State Building]].<ref>[[Loeb, Jeph]]. ''Hulk'' vol. 2 #15–17 (Nov. 2009–Jan. 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref>

After Ross fakes his own death, Betty also appears as herself at his "funeral", accompanied by a [[Life Model Decoy]] of Glenn Talbot to constantly monitor and control her, and expresses distrust of Bruce due to his recent marriage to [[Caiera]] on [[Sakaar]] and his subsequent [[World War Hulk|attack on Manhattan]].<ref>''Fall of the Hulks: Gamma'' (Dec. 2009). Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[World War Hulks]]" storyline, after [[Skaar (character)|Skaar]] stabs her with his sword, the Red She-Hulk reverts to her human form, exposing her true identity.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #609. Marvel Comics.</ref> Betty explains how she was brought back to life, and asks that Bruce allow her to die. But when Samson arrives, Betty's anger at his betrayal transforms her back into the Red She-Hulk, thus healing her injuries.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #610. Marvel Comics.</ref> Now once again in control of her own mind, Betty (as the Red She-Hulk) helps Bruce/the Hulk to reconcile with his son Skaar.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #611. Marvel Comics.</ref> When Bruce gains the upper hand in the ensuing final battle against Ross, Betty becomes worried for her father, which, combined with her heightened aggression when transformed, leads to conflict with the original She-Hulk, who prevails. After Ross is defeated and imprisoned, Betty convinces Bruce to grant her father an opportunity for rehabilitation and redemption.<ref>''Hulk'' vol. 2 #24. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In the aftermath of the Leader's attempted takeover, Betty tells Bruce that they are no longer married, since she was declared legally dead and everyone else knows that Bruce had married Caiera.<ref>''Incredible Hulks'' #612 (Sept. 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref> But in the last series, the Hulk family defeats [[Fin Fang Foom]]. Afterwards, Betty and Bruce resume their romantic relationship, but it gets shaky as Bruce becomes obsessed with regaining the power of the Hulk.

During the "[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]" storyline, the Red She-Hulk traveled to [[Brazil]], along with [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]], [[Ms. Marvel]], and the [[Noh-Varr|Protector]], to fight the Hulk, who was transformed into Nul: Breaker of Worlds.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Bendis, Brian Michael]]|penciller=[[Romita, John Jr.]]|inker=[[Janson, Klaus]]|title=Avengers|volume=4|issue=#15|date=August 2011|publisher=Marvel Comics}}</ref> She later receives an enchanted Asgardian sword from Iron Man and joins the heroes in the final battle against the [[Serpent (character)|Serpent]] and his forces. After the battle, the Stark-Asgardian weapons were returned to Asgard to be melted down, but the Red She-Hulk kept her sword.<ref>''Fear Itself'' #6-7. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Following the "[[Original Sin (comics)|Original Sin]]" storyline, the Hulk persona emerges as the result of an attempt to assassinate Bruce and efforts to save his life using the [[Extremis]] virus. This new Hulk, calling himself "Doc Green", decides that gamma-powered superhumans are a threat to humanity that must be eliminated, with Betty being among his victims.<ref>''Hulk'' vol. 3 #6 (2014). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Hulk'' vol. 3 #8 (2014)</ref>

During the "[[Civil War II]]" storyline, Betty Ross was among those who learned about Bruce Banner's death and attended his funeral.<ref>''Civil War II: The Fallen'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Becoming the Red Harpy===
In ''[[The Immortal Hulk (comic book)|The Immortal Hulk]]'', Bruce Banner visits Betty after his resurrection and explains that he had not contacted her for months due to emotional turmoil. As they talked, they were being watched by [[Bushwacker (comics)|Bushwacker]], an agent of the U.S. Hulk Operations, who had orders to monitor Bruce and possibly kill him. Though the Bushwacker was ordered by General Reginald Fortean not to shoot, he ignored the order and fired his gun. However, he unintentionally hit Betty in the head. Bruce transformed into the Hulk and went after the Bushwacker, but the Hulk was held off by Doc Samson, allowing the Bushwacker to escape. When the Hulk and Samson returned to her house, her body was missing. It was later revealed that she was transformed into a new version of the Harpy named the Red Harpy.<ref>''The Immortal Hulk'' #14-20. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
===The Harpy===
As the Harpy, Betty had superhuman strength, stamina, speed and durability with which were even enough to fight the Hulk. She also had big bird-like wings from her back that she used to fly at high speeds through the air and perform aerial attacks. In addition, she could project blasts of nuclear energy she called "hellbolts" from her hands and had razor-sharp talons which were strong enough to cut through metal or carry heavy objects.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #168-170 (October–December 1973)</ref>

===The Red She-Hulk===
As the Red She-Hulk, Betty possesses immense superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability, and a [[healing factor]] that allows her to easily survive what would normally be fatal injuries to humans, such as stab wounds to the leg and abdomen by [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]]'s claws.<ref name="Hulkv2#16">Loeb, Jeph. ''Hulk'' vol. 2 #16 (December 2009)</ref> Similar to her ex-husband, Betty's strength level is so vast that it warps the [[laws of physics]] even further than standard for other characters in the same fictional continuity; for example, allowing her to punch her way through dimensional barriers between different universes.<ref name=Hulk607>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #607</ref> However, she was defeated easily by the original [[She-Hulk]], mainly due to her lack of experience.<ref name=Hulk24>''Hulk'' vol. 2 #24</ref> She shares the Red Hulk's ability to absorb energy, such as the [[gamma radiation]] from other gamma mutates, thereby reverting those beings to human form, and at least temporarily boosting herself. According to Banner, there were plans to remove this ability through the same process that removed the Red Hulk's based on the fact that this ability would eventually kill her.<ref>Loeb, Jeph. ''Hulk'' vol. 2 #22 (July 2010)</ref> Also like her father, the Red She-Hulk has yellow blood, produces yellow energy from her eyes when angry,<ref name="Hulkv2#16" /> and can discharge energy by touch.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 3 #24</ref> The Red She-Hulk can be returned to human form if she is suddenly startled or frightened, though she can revert to her Red She-Hulk form at will.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Matt Fraction|penciller=[[Terry Dodson]]|inker=[[Rachel Dodson]]|story=Breaker of Worlds Part 2: The Prize of New Avalon|title=[[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]]|volume=4|issue=#2|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=March 2012}}</ref> As the Red She-Hulk, she still maintains control of her humanity, though if extremely angered she can become "pure Hulk", further increasing her strength, but losing control of her mind.<ref>''Red She-Hulk'' #60–61</ref>

The Red She-Hulk carries a [[Zweihänder|great sword]] that she affectionately calls her "big ass sword". The sword, forged by [[Tony Stark]], is made of Stark Industries repulsor technology and enchanted uru metal from [[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]] and was first given to the Red She-Hulk during the "Fear Itself" storyline, along with similar weapons given to other heroes to defeat Cul "the Serpent", [[Odin (Marvel Comics)|Odin]]'s long-forgotten brother. While the other weapons are eventually returned and melted at the end of the storyline, the Red She-Hulk manages to hold on to hers.<ref>''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]'' #6–7</ref> The sword is later taken by a massive global machine called "the Terranometer" during the ''Hell Hath No Fury'' story arc and is held there until the Red She-Hulk is able to stop the U.S. government from inadvertently creating a dystopian future in which [[Gamma radiation|gamma]]-enhanced super-soldiers take over Earth.<ref>''Red She-Hulk'' #61–67</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Accolades ===

* In 2020, ''[[Scary Mommy]]'' included Betty Ross in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic |url=https://www.scarymommy.com/marvel-female-characters |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Scary Mommy |date=29 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* In 2022, ''[[Screen Rant]]'' included Betty Ross in their "10 Best Female Superheroes & Villains Like She-Hulk" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prom |first=Bradley |date=2022-09-28 |title=10 Best Female Superheroes & Villains Like She-Hulk |url=https://screenrant.com/best-female-superheroes-villains-she-hulk/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
* In 2023, ''[[CBR.com]]'' ranked Betty Ross 5th in their "10 Greatest Hulk Allies In Marvel Comics" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaul |first=Jack |date=2023-02-10 |title=10 Greatest Hulk Allies In Marvel Comics |url=https://www.cbr.com/incredible-hulk-best-allies-marvel-comics/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

==Other versions==
===''Heroes Reborn''===
An alternate universe variant of Betty Ross from a pocket universe created by Franklin Richards appears in ''[[Heroes Reborn (1996 comics)|Heroes Reborn]]''. This version is the head of security for [[Stark Industries|Stark International]].

===''House of M''===
An alternate universe variant of Betty Ross from Earth-58163 appears in ''[[House of M]]''. This version is married to Glenn Talbot.<ref>''Hulk: Broken Worlds'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Ultimate Marvel===
An alternate universe variant of Betty Ross from Earth-1610 appears in the [[Ultimate Marvel]] imprint. This version is the [[Ultimates]]' [[public relations officer]].<ref>''Ultimates'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Ultimates'' #6</ref><ref>''Ultimates 2'' #5. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Ultimates 2'' #13. Marvel Comics.</ref> She later becomes '''[[She-Hulk]]''' using a serum created by [[She-Hulk#Ultimate Marvel|Jennifer Walters]] and is imprisoned by [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], who work to help her control her powers.<ref>''Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk'' #6</ref><ref>''Ultimate Comics: Ultimates'' #7. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
* Betty Ross appears in "The Incredible Hulk" segment of ''[[The Marvel Super Heroes]]'', voiced by [[Maxine Miller]].<ref name="Book Two 2021">''The Marvel Super Heroes on TV! Book Two: Thor'' (2021) - by J. Ballmann, ISBN 9 798724 754941</ref>
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1982 animated TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (1982), voiced by [[B. J. Ward (actress)|B. J. Ward]].{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (1996), voiced initially by [[Genie Francis]] and subsequently by [[Philece Sampler]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Betty Ross Voices (Hulk) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Hulk/Betty-Ross/ |access-date=December 19, 2019 |website=Behind the Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref>
* Betty Ross appears in the ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'' episode "Banner Day", voiced by [[Misty Lee]].<ref name="btva" />

===Film===
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'' (2003), portrayed by [[Jennifer Connelly]] as an adult and by [[Rhiannon Leigh Wryn]] as a child.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Jack |date=2022-06-12 |title=Jennifer Connelly's 10 Best Movies, According to Ranker |url=https://screenrant.com/jennifer-connelly-best-movies-according-ranker/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Poisuo |first=Pauli |date=2023-01-29 |title=Ang Lee's Hulk Is Way Better Than You Remember |url=https://www.looper.com/1181728/ang-lees-hulk-is-way-better-than-you-remember/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Looper |language=en-US}}</ref> This version is Bruce Banner's friend and colleague at [[University of California, Berkeley|Berkeley]] and an ex-lover of [[Glenn Talbot]].
* The [[Ultimate Marvel]] incarnation of Betty Ross appears in ''[[Ultimate Avengers]]'' and ''[[Ultimate Avengers 2]]'', voiced by Nan McNamara.<ref name="btva" />
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow]]'', voiced by [[Nicole Oliver]].<ref name="btva" />
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[Marvel Animated Features#Hulk vs.|Hulk vs. Thor]]'', voiced again by Nicole Oliver.<ref name="btva" />
* Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk appears in ''[[Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red]]'', voiced by [[Laura Post]].<ref name="btva332">{{cite web |title=Red She-Hulk Voice - ''LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red'' (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/LEGO-Marvel-Avengers-Code-Red/Red-She-Hulk/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref>

==== Marvel Cinematic Universe ====
{{See also|Betty Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)}}
Betty Ross appears in media set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU), portrayed by [[Liv Tyler]].
* Ross first appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (2008). This version is a cellular biologist who works at Culver University who, along with [[Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Bruce Banner]], were recruited by the U.S. Army for secret bio-tech force enhancement research that would go on to turn Banner into the Hulk.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 May 2007|title=Liv Tyler is Hulk's Betty Ross!|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/20209-liv-tyler-is-hulk-s-betty-ross|access-date=29 March 2021|website=ComingSoon.net|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Iacobucci |first=Jordan |date=2023-02-04 |title=It's Too Late For The MCU To Revisit One Important Hulk Character |url=https://screenrant.com/mcu-hulk-betty-ross-return-too-late/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
* An alternate universe variant of Ross appears in the ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'' (2021) episode "[[What If... the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?]]," voiced by Stephanie Panisello.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=What If...? Episode 3 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character|url=https://screenrant.com/what-if-episode-3-cast-mcu-character-guide-new-returning/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
* Ross appears in ''[[Captain America: Brave New World]]'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |date=March 27, 2023 |title=Liv Tyler Returns to Marvel for 'Captain America 4' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/captain-america-liv-tyler-betty-ross-1235361579/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327190855/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/captain-america-liv-tyler-betty-ross-1235361579/ |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

===Video games===
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[Hulk (video game)|Hulk]]'' (2003), voiced by Katie Bennison.<ref name="btva" />
* Betty Ross appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (2008 video game)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (2008), voiced by Liv Tyler.<ref name="btva" />
* Betty Ross's Red She-Hulk and She-Hulk forms appear as alternate skins for [[She-Hulk]] in ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds]]'' and ''[[Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3]]''.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
* Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk appears as a playable character in ''[[Marvel Super Hero Squad Online]]'', voiced by [[Grey DeLisle]].<ref name="voice">{{cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/extensive-cast-of-voice-actors-unveiled-for-super-hero-squad-online-138920019.html |date=February 8, 2012 |access-date=February 21, 2025| title=Extensive Cast of Voice Actors Unveiled for Super Hero Squad Online |publisher=Gazillion Entertainment |agency=[[PR Newswire]] |last=Mutzman |first=Keith}}</ref>
* Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk appears as a playable character in ''[[Marvel Avengers Alliance]]''.<ref>http://marvel.com/news/video_games/25634/go_inside_avengers_alliance_spec_op_32 {{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
* Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk appears in ''[[Lego Marvel's Avengers]]'' and ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Betty Ross Games |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/betty-ross/3005-19247/games/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}</ref>
* Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk appears as a playable character in ''[[Marvel: Future Fight]]''.<ref name="voice2">{{cite web| url=https://www.cbr.com/immortal-hulk-red-she-hulk-marvel-future-fight| access-date=July 18, 2020| title=The Immortal Hulk, Red She-Hulk Smash Their Way Into Marvel Future Fight| date=July 2020}}</ref>

=== Miscellaneous ===
Betty Ross appears in ''[[Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk]]'', voiced by [[Heather Doerksen]].<ref name="btva" />

== Collected editions ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Material collected !! Publication date !! ISBN
|-
|''She-Hulks: Hunt for the Intelligencia''
|''She-Hulks'' #1-4 and material from ''She-Hulk Sensational'' #1
|June 2011
|{{ISBNT|978-0785150008}}
|-
| ''Red She-Hulk Vol. 1: Hell Hath No Fury''
| ''Red She-Hulk'' #58–62
| April 2013
| {{ISBNT|978-0785165316}}
|-
| ''Red She-Hulk Vol. 2: Route [[Earth-616|616]]'' 
| ''Red She-Hulk'' #63–67
| September 2013
| {{ISBNT|978-0785184461}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Marvelwiki|red-she-hulk|Red She-Hulk (Elizabeth 'Betty' Ross)}}
* {{Marveldatabase|Elizabeth Ross (Earth-616)|Betty Ross}}

{{Hulk}}
{{She-Hulk}}
{{Defenders}}
{{Stan Lee}}
{{Jack Kirby}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Betty}}
[[Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby]]
[[Category:Characters created by Jeph Loeb]]
[[Category:Characters created by Stan Lee]]
[[Category:Characters created by Steve Englehart]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1962]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from California]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with dissociative identity disorder]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with nuclear or radiation abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional Christian nuns]]
[[Category:Fictional female scientists]]
[[Category:Fictional female spies]]
[[Category:Fictional harpies]]
[[Category:Hulk (comics)]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics female superheroes]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics mutates]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics scientists]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics shapeshifters]]